You’re mid-game. You take a sharp turn at the top of the circles, and suddenly, your feet fly out from under you. It feels like you just stepped on a banana peel. You didn't lose your edge because you forgot how to skate; you lost it because you caught a stray piece of grit, hit the goalpost, or stepped on a loose screw on the way to the bench. It happens. But if you’re sitting there waiting for the next intermission to find a sharpener, you’re already behind. This is exactly where the Howies Hockey ice skate sharpening stone earns its keep. It’s not about a full sharpen. It’s about survival on the ice.
Honestly, most players treat their skates like a "set it and forget it" piece of equipment. They get them ground down to a 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch hollow every few weeks and call it a day. But the ice is chaotic. Between the metal of the posts and the hard plastic of other players' skates, your edges are constantly under attack. Having a stone in your pocket is basically like carrying a first-aid kit for your steel. It’s that small, white ceramic or hone stone that saves your shift when things go sideways.
What a Howies Stone Actually Does (and Doesn’t) Do
Let’s get one thing straight: this stone isn't going to fix a flat edge. If you’ve completely lost your "bite" because you haven't sharpened your skates since the Bush administration, a hand stone won't save you. The Howies Hockey ice skate sharpening stone is designed to remove burrs. When you hit something hard, the metal on the side of your blade doesn't just disappear; it rolls over. This creates a tiny, microscopic lip of metal—a burr—that drags in the ice and ruins your glide.
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The stone acts as a hone. By rubbing it flat against the sides of the blade, you’re essentially "resetting" the edge. You’re knocking off those imperfections so the steel can cut into the ice exactly how it was meant to when it came off the professional finishing wheel. It’s a maintenance tool, not a replacement for a Sparx machine or a guy named "Murph" in a back room with a grinding wheel.
The Science of the "Bite"
Skate blades work because of the "hollow." That’s the concave U-shape cut into the bottom of the runner. You have two edges: inside and outside. When you use a Howies Hockey ice skate sharpening stone, you are focusing on the exterior vertical walls of the blade. Most people think they need to press hard. Don’t. You’re looking for a smooth, consistent pass. If you feel the stone "catch," that’s the burr. You keep going until that catch disappears.
It’s satisfying. You can actually feel the blade becoming "clean" again. Just don't tilt the stone. If you tilt it, you’ll round off the very edge you’re trying to save, and then you really are headed for the sharpening shop.
Why Howies specifically?
There are a million stones out there. You can go to a hardware store and buy a generic whetstone for five bucks. So why do people swear by the Howies version? It comes down to the grit and the size. Howies is a brand built by trainers and equipment managers—people who live in locker rooms. They made their stone small enough to fit in a palm but substantial enough that it won't snap if you drop it on the concrete floor of a dressing room.
The grit is specifically calibrated for the stainless steel used in modern runners like Tuuk LS5 or CCM Step Steel. Some cheaper stones are too coarse. They’ll scratch your steel and leave it looking like you used a sidewalk brick. Howies uses a fine ceramic-style grit that polishes. It’s about finesse.
How to use it without ruining your skates
First, wipe the moisture off your blade. Wet steel is hard to read. Take the Howies Hockey ice skate sharpening stone and lay it perfectly flat against the side of the blade. Start at the heel and move toward the toe in one long, fluid motion. Do this maybe three or four times. Then, do the other side.
Check your work with your fingernail. Carefully—and I mean carefully—drag the top of your fingernail across the edge. If the blade peels a tiny bit of your nail off, it’s sharp. If it slides right over like it's on glass, you’ve got a dull spot. This is the "fingernail test" that every pro equipment manager uses. If you find a nick, you might need to give that specific spot a bit more attention with the stone, but again, keep it flat.
Common Misconceptions About Honing
A big mistake kids make is trying to "sharpen" the bottom of the blade with the stone. Never do this. The bottom is where the hollow lives. If you rub a flat stone against the bottom of the blade, you’re essentially flattening out the hollow. You’ll lose your edge immediately. The stone is for the sides only.
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- Myth 1: You can use it every day to avoid the pro shop.
- Reality: Your blade wears down regardless. The stone just keeps the existing edge clean.
- Myth 2: More pressure equals more sharp.
- Reality: Light pressure preserves the steel. Heavy pressure creates heat and uneven wear.
- Myth 3: It works on all blades.
- Reality: If you have coated blades (like Blacksteel or DLC), be careful. Honing the sides can sometimes flake off that expensive coating. Most pros suggest only using a stone on traditional stainless steel.
The Locker Room Essential
If you look in the bag of any Junior A, College, or Pro player, there is a Howies stone. It’s usually buried at the bottom next to a spare roll of tape and some smelly socks. It’s one of those "better to have it and not need it" tools.
Think about the travel. You’re going to a tournament. You arrive at a rink you’ve never been to, and the sharpening guy is a 16-year-old who looks like he’s never seen a skate before. You aren't giving him your $1,000 skates. You use your stone to touch up your edges and you pray the ice is hard enough to hold. It’s about control.
Practical Steps for Blade Maintenance
If you want to maximize the life of your steel and the effectiveness of your Howies Hockey ice skate sharpening stone, follow a strict post-game ritual.
- Dry everything. Use a chamois or a cotton cloth. Water is the enemy of steel. Even "stainless" steel can pit and rust over time if left in sweaty guards.
- Inspect for nicks. Run your finger (lightly!) along the edge or use the fingernail test.
- Hone immediately. Don't wait until you're on the ice for warmups. Use the Howies stone right there in the locker room while the steel is at room temperature.
- Guard up. Use soft "soakers" inside your bag. Never walk on concrete without hard guards, but never leave hard guards on your skates in your bag (they trap moisture).
The reality is that hockey is a game of inches and edges. If you’re slipping on your crossovers, you’re not playing your best. A $15 stone is the cheapest performance enhancer in the sport. It gives you the confidence to lean into a turn knowing your blade is going to bite.
Keep the stone clean. Over time, it’ll get clogged with tiny metal shavings. You can usually clean it with a little bit of water and a scrub pad, or even just some honing oil if you want to be fancy about it. A clean stone is a fast stone.
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The next time you’re at the shop picking up tape, grab a Howies Hockey ice skate sharpening stone. Toss it in your accessory pocket. You might not use it for three weeks, but the moment you feel that "slide" on a power play, you’ll be glad it’s there. You’ll fix your edge in thirty seconds on the bench, get back out there, and actually finish your shift without looking like a beginner. That’s the real value. It’s not just a piece of ceramic; it’s a tiny bit of insurance for your game.
Immediate Actions to Take
- Check your bag: If you don't have a honing stone, order one. The Howies version is the industry standard for a reason.
- Practice the "Flat Pass": Take an old pair of skates and practice running the stone flat against the side. Feel the difference between a smooth pass and a "catch."
- Stop using hard guards for storage: Switch to terry cloth soakers to prevent the rust that a stone can't always fix.
- Develop a "Feel" for your edges: Every time you put your skates on, do a quick fingernail check. You’ll start to learn exactly when your blades are starting to go dull before it costs you a goal.